Tory zero tariffs will 'tear heart from UK manufacturing'

posted by
February 14, 2019

GMB has criticised Greg Clarke after he refused to rule out imposing zero tariffs which would ‘rip the heart’ out of UK manufacturing.

In Parliament Louise Haigh MP asked the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy if he agreed zero tariffs “leave us open to a flood of cheap imports driving down wages and costing jobs?”

Greg Clarke replied: “No decision has yet been taken on that [zero tariffs].

Imposing zero tariffs would be a disaster for UK’s proud manufacturing heritage, potentially leading to thousands of job losses in industries like steel and ceramics.

Sarah Owen, GMB Officer, said:

“The Conservative’s have shown their true colours.

“They are so torn over Brexit they are willing to tear the heart out of UK manufacturing to keep their failing party together.

“We need to do whatever it takes to defend our cherished industries and that means preventing flooding the UK with cheap imports.

“The Tories want to slash tariffs left, right and centre with scant regard for the communities they will be destroying.

“We need Parliament to halt this ideologically-driven industrial sabotage and rule out slashing tariffs to zero in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”